ketch am



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H. C. KETCHAM, 0F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

TOY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. C. KEIGHAM, of Bloomeld, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful- Improvement in Toys; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure lis an elevation in perspective of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a vertical section thereof.

Similar letters of referenceindicate like parts.

This invention consists in the construction of a toy called by nie the mystic cord, the cord being concealed in the sides of two or more blocks, connected at their lower ends so as to allow their upper ends to pass each other.

A B are two blocks with straight, smooth sides connected together by an axis, D, at whose ends are placed washers c to prevent the wear ofthe adjacent parts. At the opposite ends of the blocks I make pertorations F G, in line with each other and parallel with the axis l).

H I are perforations made lengthwise in the blocks from below, and which are continued till they intersect the perforations F G. Those parts of the perforations H I which lie below the axis D are then plugged up neatly, and such a iinish is given to the lower surfaces ot' the blocks as to disguise the place of the perforations on the said surfaces. Gavities or recesses J J are then made from the inner face lot each block immediately above the axis l), and are continued till they intersect the perforations H I. A cord, E, of leather, rubber, or any other suitable material, is then passed through the perforation G of block A, down through the perforations H and J, and then through the perforations J, H, and F of block B. Each end of the cord is knotted, so that it cannot be drawn through the perforations. The axis D is next titted to the blocks, and

they are thereby secured to each other so as to be able to move past each other around the rod D as their center ofmotion.

The inner ends ofthe perforationsF G are provided with pieces a, b of leather, it' the cord E is of leather, which are secured therein by some adhesive substance in the position seen in Fig. 2, so as to make it appear to the observer as it' the cord had been cut apart on the line of separation of the blocks.

The pieces a b are always to be ot' the same material as the cord E, and are to be flush with the inner faces of the blocks.

The operation is as follows The blocks are held in the hand, and any one present is permitted to draw the cord back and forth through the blocks to prove that the string is undivided. He is then permitted to draw a knit'e through the passage d, so as to `let its blade project beyond the blocks, and to draw it up until the blade emerges betwixt them,as seen in Fig. 1. 'lhe blocks are then rotated in opposite directions, so as to expose the pieces a. l

pull upon the cord while the blocks are drawn apart to prevent them from suspecting the course of the cord.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Lctters Patent- The apparatus called the mystic cord,con

structed and operated as above described, as y an improved article of manufacture.'

. H. U. KETGHAM. Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, C. L. TOPLIFE. 

